Refrigerant reclamation system

Abstract

A refrigerant reclamation system for a refrigeration system having a refrigerant therein. The system includes a pump for removing refrigerant from the refrigeration system. The pump is driven by a pneumatic motor. The pump has a first mode of operation for removing refrigerant in a substantially liquid phase and a second mode of operation for removing refrigerant in a substantially gaseous phase. A refrigerant heat exchanger for cooling refrigerant passing therethrough is in fluid communication with the pump. A refrigerant recovery container is connected to the heat exchanger for receiving the cool refrigerant therefrom. A compressed gas drives the pneumatic motor so that the pump removes refrigerant from the refrigeration system and is passed through the heat exchanger. A pneumatic fan and manifold are connected to the exhaust of the pneumatic motor for dispersing the exhausted gas for impingement on the heat exchanger for cooling the refrigerant passing therethrough such that the exhaust gas from the pneumatic motor is used to assist in changing the phase of the refrigerant from gas to liquid.

I claim: 
     
       1. A refrigerant reclamation system for a refrigeration system having a refrigerant therein, the system comprising: a pump for removing refrigerant from the refrigeration system, the pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the refrigerant in the refrigeration system and an outlet;   a pneumatic motor for driving the pump, the motor having a gas inlet for receiving compressed gas and a gas outlet;   a refrigerant heat exchanger for cooling refrigerant passing therethrough, the heat exchanger having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump and an outlet;   a compressed gas supply in fluid communication with the gas inlet of the pneumatic motor for driving the pneumatic motor to drive the pump so that refrigerant is removed from the refrigeration system and is passed through the heat exchanger; and   gas dispersement means in fluid communication with the gas outlet of the pneumatic motor for dispersing gas exhausted from the gas outlet for impingement on the heat exchanger for cooling the refrigerant passing therethrough whereby the exhaust gas from the pneumatic motor is used to assist in changing the phase of the refrigerant from gas to liquid.   
     
     
       2. The refrigerant reclamation system of claim 1, whereby the dispersement means comprises a manifold positioned proximate the heat exchanger in fluid communication with the gas outlet for generally evenly dispersing the gas exhausted from the pneumatic motor for impingement on the heat exchanger. 
     
     
       3. The refrigerant reclamation system as recited in claim 2, wherein the dispersement means further includes fan means in fluid communication with the gas outlet and positioned proximate the heat exchanger and the manifold for promoting the flow of the gas dispersed from the manifold for impingement on the heat exchanger. 
     
     
       4. The refrigerant reclamation system as recited in claim 3, whereby the fan means comprises a second pneumatic motor for driving a shaft having fan blades mounted thereon, the second pneumatic motor having a gas inlet in fluid communication with the gas outlet of the pneumatic motor of the pump and a gas outlet in fluid communication with the manifold, whereby the manifold and the second pneumatic motor are connected in parallel. 
     
     
       5. The refrigerant reclamation system as recited in claim 4, further including valve means interconnected between the second pneumatic motor gas inlet and the gas outlet of the pneumatic motor of the pump for controlling the flow of gas to the gas inlet of the second pneumatic motor. 
     
     
       6. The refrigerant reclamation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the dispersement means, pump and heat exchanger are positioned proximate each other so that gas exhausted from the dispersement means also impinges upon the pump to cool the pump and thereby further assist in cooling the refrigerant. 
     
     
       7. The refrigerant reclamation system as recited in claim 1, further including a refrigerant recovery container for storing the refrigerant in a liquid phase, the container having an inlet in fluid communication with the heat exchanger outlet for receiving cooled refrigerant therefrom. 
     
     
       8. The refrigerant reclamation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the pump has a first mode of operation for removing the refrigerant from the refrigeration system in a substantially liquid phase and second mode of operation for removing the refrigerant from the refrigeration system in a substantially gaseous phase. 
     
     
       9. A refrigeration reclamation system for a refrigeration system having a refrigerant therein, the system comprising: a pump for removing refrigerant from the refrigeration system, the pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the refrigerant in the refrigeration system and an outlet, the pump having a first mode of operation for removing the refrigerant from the refrigeration system in a substantially liquid phase and a second mode of operation for removing the refrigerant from the refrigeration system in a substantially gaseous phase;   a motor for driving the pump;   a refrigerant heat exchanger for cooling refrigerant passing therethrough, the heat exchanger having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump and an outlet;   means for driving the motor to drive the pump so that refrigerant is removed from the refrigeration system and is passed through the heat exchanger.   
     
     
       10. The refrigerant reclamation system as recited in claim 9, wherein the pump is a double acting pump having a piston which reciprocates in a forward and rearward direction, such that when the pump is in the first mode of operation, the refrigerant is removed from the refrigeration system only when the piston moves in the forward direction and when the pump is in the second mode of operation, refrigerant is removed from the refrigeration system when the piston moves in the forward and rearward directions. 
     
     
       11. The refrigerant reclamation system as recited in claim 10, wherein in the pump further includes selection means for selecting either the first or second mode of operation. 
     
     
       12. The refrigerant reclamation system as recited in claim 9, wherein the motor is pneumatically driven. 
     
     
       13. A method of reclaiming refrigerant from a refrigeration system having a refrigerant therein, the method comprising the steps of: removing refrigerant from the refrigeration system utilizing a pump driven by compressed gas;   passing the removed refrigerant through a heat exchanger for cooling the removed refrigerant; and   routing gas exhausted from the pump for impingement upon the heat exchanger for cooling thereof.   
     
     
       14. The method as recited in claim 13, further including the step of: routing a portion of the gas exhausted from the pump to a pneumatic fan for providing a flow of cooling gas for impingement upon the heat exchanger.   
     
     
       15. A method of removing a refrigerant from a refrigertion system containing a refrigerant which may be in either a liquid or a gaseous phase comprising the steps of: connecting to the refrigeration system a pump capable of operating in two modes, a first mode in which refrigerant is removed from the refrigeration system only during a first portion of the cycle of the pump, and a second mode in which refrigerant is removed from the refrigeration system during both the first and a second portion of the cycle of the pump;   operating the pump in the first mode to remove refrigerant which is in a liquid phase; and   operating the pump in the second mode to remove refrigerant which is in a gaseous phase.